'Zakat' and 'Taraweeh' to go online this Ramzan

New Delhi: Almost the whole world is going to witness a quiet Ramzan this year including India. Many prominent clerics across the globe have already advised not to offer prayers in mosques and stay home while fasting in this holy month for Muslims amid the infectious Corona crises. So with no congregation prayers new innovative ideas are coming up to offer Taraweeh

(several rakaats of additional prayers performed in congregation every night during Ramzan either at mosques or houses). While some say that they will offer Taraweeh alone in their homes others might use online platforms for the same.

"There are several platforms online with which we can connect in groups and offer Taraweeh prayers. This is the best possible way to follow the tradition in a modern way without a physical gathering," said Qasim Khan, a resident of Lucknow.

Also some people have taken it up as an opotunity to help poor in the month of Ramzan.

"This year in Ramzan, we will not be able to offer Taraweeh with jamaat because of the current situation. How about delivering ration to 20 extremely needy families as an alternate to offering 20 Rakaat Taraweeh every evening in first 20 days of Ramadaan? And then offer Taraweeh at home in isolation," said Irtiza Qureshi, founder of Delhi based NGO Marham.

Moreover, Zakat too is all set to go online this Ramzan. Zakat is a religious obligation, ordering all Muslims who meet the necessary criteria to donate a certain portion of wealth each year to charitable causes. Giving away money to the poor is said to purify yearly earnings that are over and above what is required to provide the essential needs of a person or family.

"We can also donate Zakat online as we would not be gathering at mosques or interacting outside. This will both serve the purpose of the giving alms to the poor while maintaining social distancing, the information for this purpose could be collected and shared via Whatsapp," said Khalid Wasim, a resident of Jamia Nagar.